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Certain characteristics distinguish
Islam from other religions. An example can be seen in its introduction of Lady
Fatimah (PBUH), whom a whole chapter of the Holy Quran is dedicated solely.

Allah (SWT) has desired to prolong the
presence of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) and his message through his family,
unlike the previous prophets such as Prophet Nuh/Noah, Prophet Musa/Moses, and
Prophet Isa/Jesus (PBUT). Allah (SWT) willed it so the progeny of Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH&HP) would continue through a lady, Fatimah (PBUH) (1). This is
despite the fact that Allah (SWT) could have continued the progeny of Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) through a set of sons, as he did with Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH).

Fatimah, al-Zahra, (PBUH) has a status
unlike any other woman. Her attention and connection to her Lord is exemplary,
and Allah (SWT) has praised her immensely for it. These matters can be found in
many authentic historical accounts, even in works studied by the Sunni
scholars. (2) Despite the differences, these works all seem to agree on one
aspect, and that is the “holiness of Lady Fatimah (PBUH)”.

Upon this we come to the conclusion
that if such a lady is mistreated, the offense is far more severe than any
other. Her enemies created a fighting ground with the most sacred matter, the
Holy Quran. For, according to Muslims, many of the verses in the Holy Quran
were revealed about the Ahl al-Bayt (PBUT), such as the verse of “Tat-hir”(3),
the verse of “Mawaddat”(4), and the verse of “Mubahilah”(5).

Although Muslims may disagree on
aspects such as who are considered as the Ahl al-Bayt, they all agree
unanimously on the fact that Lady Fatimah (PBUH) is one of the Ahl al-Bayt. And
thus enmity with Lady Fatimah (PBUH) is enmity with the Holy Quran.

In addition, enmity with Lady Fatimah
(PBUH) is enmity with the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HP), the most highly revered
face of mankind. To reiterate, oppression upon Fatimah (PBUH) is oppression
upon all religious values, of which the most important is the Holy Prophet
(PBUH&HP). As the famous saying goes, “satisfying Fatimah (PBUH) means
satisfying the Prophet and her anger is his anger;” (7) thus, oppressing
her is equivalent to oppressing him.

In addition, this enmity is enmity
with a pious person. Many of the Prophet’s narrations discuss the immense value
a pious person is given by Allah (SWT). It is to the extent that his/her
reverence is more significant than the reverence of Ka’ba among Muslims. (8)
Such a comparison is huge for we are talking about the same Ka’ba which if
disrespected, Allah (SWT) would not tolerate such disrespect for Ka’ba! Based
on the Islamic teachings we also know that honor of an ordinary pious person is
revered higher than that of the Ka’ba. Now we come back to the question of the
value of a pious lady such as Lady Fatimah (PBUH), who, because of her relation
to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) on the one hand, and her devout character on
the other, has been clearly placed in a position to truly be respected. In her
praise, the verse of Tat-hir will suffice to reveal her character.

Oppression upon such a person,
therefore, is not held lightly; it is not some minor enmity; rather, it is the
highest form of enmity upon humanity.

Enmity with this lady is enmity with
the status of a woman who holds a special position in Islam. Coming along these
lines, humanity in itself holds a highly revered position for women.

Thus, one of the most anguishing
occasions for a man is to see his wife being oppressed in front of his eyes. It
is because of this matter that it is said that the oppressions upon the family
of Imam Hussain (PBUH) parallels the oppressions perpetrated upon Imam Hussain
(PBUH). It is not the killings or the swords; rather, it is the “disrespect”
done to the family of Imam Hussian (PBUH) through enslavement and the like,
which is the great calamity.

When we delve further into the life of
Lady Fatimah (PBUH), we find that she was the best example of a complete
individual and a significant example of a holy lady in an Islamic society. And
thus, enmity and oppression upon such a lady who holds the best position of a
woman is enmity upon the feminine race.

Was Fatimah (PBUH), who holds such
status, oppressed after the demise of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP)? Where is
her grave? What happened to the third grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP)
whom the Prophet named as Muhsin and the Islamic scholars have identified him
as the son of Fatimah (PBUH)? Why is his account hardly talked discussed?
History has a lot of untold mysteries…

(Selection taken
from the book “al-Zahra (PBUH)” by Ayatullah Sayyid Muhammad Baqir al-Hakim
(with some changes))

The third of Jamadi al-Thani is the
anniversary of the martyrdom of Fatimah Zahra (PBUH), the exemplary Lady of
Islam, the one who was like a mother to her father and the example of truth and
purity. Roshd Website offers its deep condolences to all Muslims around the
world on this occasion.

Footnotes

1. The society
of that time considered woman an ugly and worthless creature which could not
pass the name of her father to the next generation. Allah (SWT) says in the
Holy Quran about this manner: “And when a daughter is announced to one of them,
his face becomes black, and he is full of wrath.” (The Holy Quran, 16:58)